New data from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), based on Eurostat figures, reveals the stark financial toll of the gender pay gap across the European Union. Women working in the bloc collectively lose an estimated €358 billion each year, translating to nearly €3,900 per person annually.
The gap in gross hourly earnings stands at 11.1% on average across the EU, meaning a woman earns €88.9 for every €100 earned by a man. When annualised, the disparity becomes even more pronounced: the average employed woman in the EU receives roughly €3,900 less than her male counterpart.
National Disparities and the Pay Transparency Directive
The figures vary widely among member states. Luxembourg is the only EU country where women earn more than men, by about €474 per year. At the other end of the spectrum, women in Finland lose €7,592 annually, followed by Austria (€6,854), Germany (€6,049), and Sweden (€5,116). Losses also exceed the EU average in Estonia (€4,967), France (€4,536), Czechia (€4,499), and Ireland (€4,129).
In contrast, the gap is smallest in Belgium, where women lose just €322 per year, and remains below €1,000 in Romania and Poland. Among the EU's largest economies, Italy records a relatively low loss of €1,557, while the Netherlands sees €3,684.
The EU's Pay Transparency Directive, which requires companies with at least 100 employees to report gender pay data, was due to be transposed into national law by 7 June 2026. However, most member states missed that deadline. ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch called the delay “completely unacceptable,” adding: “Time is up on the culture of secrecy which has allowed male dominated boardrooms to get away with pay discrimination for so long.”
Lynch also noted that the cost of implementing pay transparency measures is small for businesses, but inaction by governments costs women billions. The directive covers 43 million women working in firms with 100 or more employees.
ETUC Deputy General Secretary Isabelle Schömann warned that any government failing to implement the directive could face legal action. “Any government which continues to avoid their legal responsibility to put this directive into action can expect to be taken to court,” she said.
The ETUC estimates that even a 10% reduction in the gender pay gap would yield significant gains. The average employed woman would earn around €672 more per year. The highest potential gains would be in France (€1,069), Ireland (€1,033), Finland (€963), Germany (€867), Italy (€847), and Denmark (€802). The smallest increase would be in Poland, at €221, reflecting its narrower pay gap.
These figures underscore the persistent economic inequality facing women across Europe, even as the bloc's institutions push for greater transparency. The missed deadline for the Pay Transparency Directive highlights the gap between policy ambition and national implementation, a challenge that affects millions of working women.
